New Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha's reign has gotten off to a less-than-desirable start, with SriLanka crumbling to a 93-run defeat against India in the opening Twenty20 International in Cuttack on Wednesday.

India opener KL Rahul smashed 61 off 48 balls to build the platform for India's innings of 3-180 in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal then picked up four wickets as the tourists were rolled for 87, matching their second-lowest total in the format and handing India their biggest victory margin by runs in T20s.

Coming in to bowl inside the batting powerplay, Chahal finished with 4-23 in his four overs.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 2-18 while Seamer Hardik Pandya wrapped up the tail with 3-29 as Sri Lanka were bundled out in 16 overs.

India lost stand-in captain Rohit Sharma (17) early but Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who made 24, added 63 for the second wicket to give the home side a solid base.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Manish Pandey provided the late flourish with a fourth-wicket stand of 68 as the duo added 61 in the last four overs of India's innings.

Sri Lanka Cricket authorities hope Hathurusingha's arrival will change the national team's fortunes after a string of losses in recent months, with the coach looking to replicate the success he found with Bangladesh.

"My plans with Bangladesh, New South Wales, Sri Lanka A and Moors have all been successful," Hathurusingha said.

"I will be implementing a similar plan. This team has the potential to go two or three steps higher if we go along with a plan."

Hathurusingha, who was contracted with Bangladesh until the 2019 World Cup, resigned to take up the job in his native country.

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Cricket Australia.